Page 44 of Dagger

“These are my friends, Sophie and Tank,” I add, gesturing to them.

“Will you all be living here?” he asks, his tone careful but curious.

I laugh, shaking my head. “No, just me and my son. They’re just here for moral support.”

He visibly relaxes, nodding. “Ah, okay. Good to meet you all.”

“Likewise,” Tank rumbles, his voice low and even, though his presence alone is enough to keep Eddie on edge.

“Alright,” Eddie says, fumbling slightly with the keys as he heads toward the front door. “Let’s go take a look.”

We follow him inside, and the moment I step through the door, I feel a sense of relief. The pictures didn’t do it justice. The living room is bright and open, with freshly painted walls and clean floors. It’s not fancy, but it’s exactly what I need—simple, cozy, and welcoming.

Eddie leads us through the house, pointing out little details as we go. “The kitchen was updated a couple of years ago,” he says, gesturing to the cabinets and countertops. “New appliances, too.”

I nod, running my hand along the smooth countertop. “It’s perfect,” I murmur, mostly to myself.

The bedrooms are small but comfortable, with plenty of natural light streaming through the windows. When we step into the second bedroom, I can’t help but picture it as a nursery—the crib, the toys, the little touches that will make it my son’s space.

“And out here,” Eddie says, opening a sliding glass door, “is the backyard.”

I step out onto the small patio, my breath catching when I see the fenced-in yard. It’s not huge, but it’s more than enough. I can already imagine my son running around out here, playing with a ball or chasing after a dog someday.

Sophie leans over to me, her smile wide. “This is a great spot, Chloe. It’s perfect for you two.”

Tank grunts in agreement, his arms crossed as he surveys the yard. “Looks solid. Fencing’s in good shape.”

I turn to Eddie, smiling. “This place is better than I expected. Thank you for showing it to us.”

He smiles back, looking genuinely pleased. “I’m glad you like it. If you’re interested, we can go over the application process.”

“I am,” I say firmly, already imagining us here. “I definitely am.”

“We should grab an early dinner, you two up for that?” Sophie asks. Tank grunts in agreement and I nod. “I could definitely eat.”

Tank drives us to the country buffet, a no-frills spot with all-you-can-eat everything. The place is busy, full of families and couples, and the smell of fried chicken and fresh rolls fills the air as we walk in. We grab a table near the window, and Sophie and I head to the salad bar while Tank veers off toward the grill station.

I’m reaching for the tongs to grab some lettuce when I bump into someone next to me.

“Sorry about that,” I say automatically, glancing up.

The apology catches in my throat when I realize who it is. I think her name’s Brittney or Jessica—doesn’t really matter. She’s someone I’ve seen around Perdition more times than I care to count. She’s always dressed to turn heads, and all over the guys. They love it I’m sure.

Her lips pull into a smirk, but it quickly twists into a sneer as her eyes rake over me, dripping with judgment. “Well, well,” she says, her tone dripping with mockery. “You’re Chloe, right?”

I hesitate, my stomach twisting. “Yeah... why?”

She crosses her arms, her eyes narrowing. “The bitch who got knocked up by Dagger?” she asks loud enough to make a few people turn around and look at us.

My face burns, and I take a small step back, but she steps forward, closing the space.

“You know, I’ve fucked Dagger before,” she continues, her voice low and mean. “I loved the way his dick felt inside me.”

My stomach flips, and my hands tighten around the edge of the salad bar as her words cut deeper than I want to admit.

She leans in slightly, her smile turning nasty. “I think I’ll give him a call now that he’s back in town. See if he wants to hang out again. You know how men like him are—they don’t stay interested for long.”

“Excuse me?” Sophie’s voice cuts through the tension.

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